Improvement in eg-g- and fruit-carrier



J '-wc) www luml Ottime twee-sa:

IRA R. AMSDEN, OF BUFFALQ'NEW YORK.

vLetters Patent No. 86,267, dated January 2G, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN EGG- AN D FRUIT-CARRIER.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the sama.

To all 'whom it may concer/n.:

Be it known that I, IRA R. AMSDEN, of the city of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Egg and Fruit-Carriers; and I do hereby declare .that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an elevation of the carrier when inserted in a barrel, showing the barrel in section.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the barrel, showing the position of the vertical strips or bars.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carrier.

Figures 4 and 5 show the different modes of arranging and constructing the pouches when cloth is employed.

Figure 6 represents a method of forming the pouches without the use` of cloth.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

My invention consists in the adaptation of a barrel, cask, or similar receptacle, to receiving egg-carriers or fruit-trays, and also in the special construction ofthe frames and pouches, and arrangement of the carriers themselves, as hereinafter' set forth.

A represents an ordinary barrel or cask, having several vertical strips or bars, a a a a, or their equivalent, therein, on line with the mouth, extending from top to bottom, so as to shut olf the bulge, and form a way to allow the carriers or trays B B to slide straight up and down therein, and be retained closelyin place, as shown.

A special advantage is secured by this arrangement, for Ican thereby adapt any ordinary barrel or cask to the purpose of receiving the carriers or trays, allowing them to be inserted and removed at pleasure, and still be retained closely and compactly in place, in which condition the barrel or cask may be rolled around at pleasure, saving much lifting and handling in transpoi-tation.

Heretofore, square or rectangular boxes only have been employed to receive trays or carriers, as barrels, owing to the bulge, would not allow the carriers to be inserted straight up and down, and still hold firmly in place.

I obviate all difficulties of the kind by the combination 0f the Strips or bars a a with the* barrel.

AThis alteration of the barrel is cheaply and conveniently made, and does not injure it for other uses, if required.

By thus adapting ordinary barrelsor casks to the purpose, I save great expense in packing and cost of transportation.

The frames B B may be round, square, or rectangular, and are of peculiar construction.

Each frame has formed on the inside a ledge, b,with

vertical holes c c, through which pass the suspensioncords d d', f.

These cords are so woven through as to form a double right-angled mesh or net-work, 1, 2, at such a distance apart as to suspend and -hold the eggs when placed therein.

I first weave the cord d, iig. 5, through the holes from side to side, the lengths being all parallel, or in one direction, to form one-half of the lower mesh.

I then similarly weave the cord f of the upper mesh I in the same direction, but with the lengths alternating or breaking joints with the lower ones.

I then tack or otherwise fasten, on one side of the ledge, in the same direction, the cloth g, and pass it alternatel y over and under the cords (Z f, to the opposite side, where it is securely tacked in the same manner.

When this' is done, I weavev the cords fl' f in. the same manner, but opposite direction, passing them through the cloth, where it loops over the cords already in place.

The cloth may be attached in the angular form, asin iig. 5, or in the square form, as in fig. 6. The eiect is the same in either case, the only difference being in the'iimber of lengths' of cord in the meshes and number of pouches produced.

A similar etfect may be produced by weaving cords h h up and down, in connection with the two meshes,

to form the sides oi' the pouches or cells, as shown in iig. 6.

The pouches may be produced by passing the cloth over and under the cords d (l or f f, so as to make a irm bottom or top, as may be required, then placing between that and the opposite cords, hay, hair, cotton, or similar soft material, in which the egg can rest, supportedcin position by the open mesh of cords around it.

These methods of constructing the pouches or cells for the reception of the eggs are especially adapted to the close and safe packing of the same; also, to the use of the carriers in a barrel, as before described; for the said pouches are thus formed with firm sides and bottoms, which'sustain the egg in place, and prevent rough contact with their fellows.

In all other egg-carriers with which I am acquainted, the pouches are either suspended loosely, or else, if the sides are lirm, the bottoms, at least, are loose, which allows a shaking and irregular action thatw'ill not admit of close packing, and is liable to break the eggs, notwithstanding the greatest care.

In my carrier, the bottoms as well as the sides are lirm and elastic, one end of the egg resting upon the cord oi the lower mesh, while the upper end ts inthe same manner in one of the pouches of the ame above, which is tted crosswise. l

The iirm cords thus bind the pouches on all sides, and give them a positive form, which is not the case with anyY other arrangement with which I am acquainted. p

In this construction, a larger number of pouches to a given space c an be safely used, aud when the frames are packed closely together, the eggs are immovable,

dental injury or malicious cutting. Each layer of the cords being, also, independent from the others, if one layer breaks, the others are in nowise affected, but

will still sustain the load.

Between the frames are interposed rubber or equivalent cushions c i, so as to produce elasticityin the contact of the frames, and obviate jar or concussion in transportation. Were they brought in close contact, there would be more liability of the breakage of the e gs.

gThe frames have steadying-pins jj, and-are all hinged together, as shown at le la. I prefer to hinge on alternate sides, as indicated, as it is more convenient in use.

I also use bolts l l, passing through all the frames, to clamp and hold them together, as shown.

In this condition the carriers are easily inserted or removed from the barrel, and also easily transported from place to place, as necessity may require, independent of the receptacle, as shown in iig. 3.

The covers c c, which fit the ends of the carriers, may be stuffed on the inside with hay, straw, hair, or other soft material, to prevent breakage.

What I claim las my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A package foreggs or fruit, consisting of a carrier, made up of a series of trays, B B, or equivalent, suitably connected to form a solid body, and conlined in a barrel or pask, A, by means of the vertical strips a a, the whole construction Abeing such that, rst, the eggs or fruit are closely 'and immovably conned in the carrier; and second, the carrier itself is closely and immovably confined in the barrel or cask, by Which means the package may be rolled around and easily handled, without `danger to the contents, as herein set forth.

2. The arrangement ofthe two meshes of cords d d', ff', situated one above the other, at suitable distance apart, and a single piece of cloth, g, Woven alternately over and under the cords running in one direction, and retained by the transverse cords piercing it in the other direction, the whole construction being such as to form the cells with stiff sides and bottoms, as herein set forth.

3. The construction of a carrier, composed of separate frames B B, hinged together, and further secured by bolts b b, and having steadying-pins jj, for retaining` the parts in position, the Whole arranged as described, and operating in the manner andpfor the purpose specified.

.4. ln an egg-carrier, ofthe kind spe'ciiied,nhinging the frames B together on opposite sides alternately, whereby the frames, when unfolded, form along line of trays, which are readily filled and repacked, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed myname, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

IRA R. AMSDEN. Witnesses:

'J. R. BRAKE.

WV. J. GHAMBERLAIN. 

